GLOBAL FOREST GOALS REPORT, 2021

• The United Nations recently released the Global Forest Goals Report, 2021.
• According to the report, the COVID-19 has increased the challenges faced by countries in managing their forests.
• During COVID-19 the forest dependent population faced reduced income, job losses, diminished access to markets and information. Most of the forest dependent population faced difficulty in accessing healthcare and basic services.

According to the report,

• Around 1.6 billion people rely on forests. This is 25% of global population.
• Of the rural areas in the world, more than 40% live in Savannah and forests. This is 20% of the global population.

Key goals as identified by the report:

• Australia: To plant 20 million trees by 2020. This is to be increased to billion plantations by 2030
• Brazil: To increase the planted areas to two million hectares
• India: To add 200,000 hectares of tree and forest cover per year etc

The report provides an overview of the six Global Forest Goals out of the twenty-six targets of National Strategic Plan for Forests. The six goals are as follows:

• Reverse Forest Cover Loss
• Improve Forest Benefits and Livelihoods
• Protect Forests and use sustainable forest products
• Mobilise resources
• Promote inclusive forest governance
• Cooperate and work across the sectors